This weekend might have been one of the best of the entire program so far—possibly rivaled only by our trip to Northern Ireland. We had the chance to travel to Ireland’s stunning west coast and visit the iconic Cliffs of Moher. For those unfamiliar, the Cliffs of Moher are towering sea cliffs that rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and stretch over five miles along the coast. They are, without question, the most breathtaking natural formation I’ve seen in Ireland. The only downside was that some of the hiking paths were closed, so we couldn’t explore the cliffs as extensively as we had hoped. Even so, what we were able to see was unforgettable.
But the Cliffs weren’t the only highlight. We also explored the Burren—a vast, rocky landscape that looks like something from another planet. The limestone pavement stretches for miles along the ocean and inland, and walking across it felt surreal, like I had stepped into a sci-fi movie.
We stayed in Galway during our west coast visit, which was a peaceful change of pace from the city. The town has a laid-back charm, with plenty to explore and some truly impressive food for such a small place. One night, I had dinner at The Dough Bros, a Neapolitan pizzeria that’s currently ranked #2 in Ireland and #19 in Europe. The pizza lived up to the hype; it was really good. For dessert, I treated myself to Murphy’s famous ice cream, trying both their honeycomb and sea salt flavors (made with Atlantic sea salt). They were incredible.
Another standout moment was biking around the Aran Islands. The ride along the coast was beautiful, with the ocean breeze and rugged scenery making it feel like a postcard come to life. We had fresh fish and chips for lunch, and I even made a four-legged friend—a friendly horse who became my favorite part of the day.
We wrapped up our west coast adventure with a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a grand castle nestled in the middle of nowhere. The property is remarkably well-preserved and still run by a community of nuns, which adds a unique historical and cultural dimension. I walked a few of the hiking trails around the estate and visited the beautiful Victorian gardens. The whole experience felt like stepping into a storybook. All in all, this weekend was unforgettable. Ireland’s west coast is something truly special—wild, peaceful, and full of surprises.
Nice post Abbott! I had a blast adventuring Inishmore with you! I really liked how you painted such vivid pictures of each place we visited. Your descriptions of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and the Aran Islands were so detailed and captured each place very well! The pizza at The Dough Bros did indeed live up to the hype, I did not know they where the number 2 pizza place in Ireland, they definitely have that title rightfully so.